“If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.” Elmore Leonard said that in his Ten Rules of Writing. It was so important that Leonard didn’t give it a number. He said it’s the advice that sums up his other rules. Maybe our English teachers convinced us that good writing was fancy. Maybe we think fancy writing will » Read More
Category: Better Writing
Read a Lot to Learn to Write Well
It’s obvious that you should write a lot if you want to become a good writer. What’s not so obvious is that you should also read a lot. Reading is how you develop mental models of what good writing looks and sounds like. If you want to improve faster, go beyond just reading and read and learn intentionally. Don’t » Read More
Should you buy that nifty writing software?
My clients are mid-career professionals who want to write a book to improve their reputation. They are often tempted to buy a piece of sophisticated writing software to help them with this new endeavor. Henry Thoreau said, “beware of all enterprises that require new clothes.” I feel the same way about writing projects » Read More
There is No Magic to Learning to Write Well
We went on a trip with some friends this weekend. While my friend was checking us in at our hotel, I got to talking with the young man who had custody of our luggage on a giant cart. In the course of conversation, he told me that he wanted to be a writer. He asked what he should do. When I told him, his face » Read More
5 Keys to Creating a Great Piece of Writing
I love bourbon. But I can’t imagine myself spending over $1000 for a bottle of it. That’s what a bottle of legendary Pappy Van Winkle 23 costs. Today it comes from the Buffalo Trace distillery where Julian Van Winkle III overseas today’s product. Julian is the grandson of legendary (there’s that word again) » Read More